New £15 million fund to help churches with energy bills
Parishes in the Diocese will soon be able to apply for additional grants to assist with spiralling energy bills after The Church of England announced a new £15m Energy Costs Grant fund. The portion allocated to Chichester is £357k.
The money will help churches with the increased costs of heating and lighting church buildings this winter.
Diocesan Secretary Gabrielle Higgins said today: “In addition to the ministry hardship funding for clergy made available earlier this year this is much needed and welcome additional support for parishes.
“Over the next few days, I will be working with colleagues to plan out the most effective way to ensure a fair distribution of the funding across the Diocese, getting the money to where it is most needed. The process of how parishes will be able to apply for this support will be shared with PCCs as soon as we can.”
Alan Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner, said “The £15m fund will help churches to remain open as centres of worship and pastoral care and will also make a key difference in helping churches to continue opening their buildings for vital practical support for their communities over the winter through social action such as food banks.”
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For further information aimed at helping churches to become more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint click here